Just a short time ago, each of my Final Four teams – Duke, North Carolina, Gonzaga, and Virginia – were flying high, preparing for a collision course in Minneapolis, Minn. But then the Madness began.
The top seeds soon fell like flies, and when the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the only favorite that remained was Virginia, last season’s punch line (the Cavs were the first Number one seed to lose in NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball history).
While two of the top teams rank #1 (Virginia) and #3 (Michigan St.) in kenpom rankings, the other two teams, Texas Tech (just 28th in adjusted offensive efficiency) and Auburn (38th on defense) are outliers, still likely destined to be watching the championship game from the sidelines.
While my bracket is busted (Thanks for the memories Zion; I can’t wait for your Lebron-like moments in the NBA), three Ultimate Sports Challenge participants managed to get half of the Final Four correct. Of those three entrants, Ron Yvon, of West Springfield was chosen at random to become the Ultimate Madness winner. Yvon’s Final Four was Michigan State, Virginia, UNC, and Gonzaga. Congratulations!
Next up: The Masters (April 11-14).
